Herb pots make it easy

A herb pot is an excellent method to keep plants growing and ready for use.  When you grow your own plants there is no need to dash to the shop just to get parsley. Home grown herbs, fruit and vegetables taste best and are very satisfying.  So how do you do it?
You will need:

6  herb pots  $36
I have used purple sage, curry plant, strawberries and oregano
15 litre bag premium potting mix $10
28 cm Herb pot $40
Prices are approximate

A herb pot should be in a sunny position, where it will receive at least 4-5 hours sunlight or more. They can be easily moved around your patio or garden to get more or less sun.  In a small pot it can be placed on a table where it is easy to pick herbs and strawberries and close to the kitchen.

Maples bleed when pruned in winter

Maples belong to a genus of deciduous trees with a wide range of small and large trees, many can handle full sunny positions and others need more protection from the scorching summer sun in Australia.  Some have very finely dissected leaves and appear to be fragile, whilst others have large maple shaped leaves like those on the Canadian flag.  They are tolerant of a wide range of soils and are extremely tolerant of cold and frosty conditions.
Pruning is not regularly required and usually shaping of a young tree is all that is needed.  Right now it is late winter and many plants are showing signs of new growth.  This is the time when many fruit trees are pruned but resist the urge to prune your maple in late winter.  The reason being they bleed considerable amounts of sap from each cut.
Heres an example of what happens when you prune your maple in late winter.  This is my tree and I needed to relocate it to make way for a new gate.  In its new position the shape was not quite right.

Do not be alarmed with the sap flow.  However make sure the cut is clean from sharp secateurs and not flush  against the stem or trunk.  All cuts should be made above the collar and angled away from the junction will allow the tree to heal.
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